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    1. Home
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    3. Annie Zhang

      People
    1. Home
    2. People
    3. Annie Zhang

      People

    Annie Zhang

    Associate


    • Chicago, Washington, DC
    • Office+1 312.977.4886
    • azhang@nixonpeabody.com
    • Download vCard
    • LinkedIn Profile

    Introduction

    Annie Zhang is an associate in Nixon Peabody’s Corporate Practice group. She represents public and private companies and not-for-profits on matters related to employee benefits and executive compensation.

    Practice Areas

    Employee Benefits & ERISAEmployee Benefit Plan AuditsExecutive CompensationCorporate & FinanceLabor, Employment & BenefitsHealth & Welfare Fiduciary Governance

    /My focus

    Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

    Annie provides ongoing advice to clients on complex employee benefits and federal income tax issues for a broad range of retirement, health and welfare, fringe benefits, and deferred compensation arrangements for private, public, and nonprofit entities and in the collective bargaining and corporate transaction context. She advises on day-to-day benefit administration, fiduciary, and governance matters related to ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, the Affordable Care Act, COBRA, HIPAA, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (including the No Surprises Act), SECURE Act, and SECURE 2.0 Act. Annie has extensive experience working with clients to design and implement comprehensive employee benefit programs that align with organizational goals and regulatory requirements. She assists clients in navigating the complexities of compliance, ensuring that benefit plans meet stringent and ever-evolving legal standards. She is also adept at negotiating service agreements to achieve maximum transparency, fiduciary protections, and appropriate fee arrangements.

    /Looking ahead

    As litigation and regulatory scrutiny over fiduciary obligations in the management and administration of health and welfare benefits intensify, plan fiduciaries must proactively create and implement formal, well documented governance and compliance processes to mitigate emerging risks and protect against costly legal challenges.

    /In the news

    • Employee Benefit Plan Review

      Managing increasing health and welfare fiduciary risks

      Corporate partners Damian Myers of Washington, DC and Yelena Gray of Chicago, counsel Lena Gionnette of Rochester, and associate Annie Zhang of Washington, DC, all members of NP’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, contributed this column, discussing how to manage increasing health and welfare fiduciary risks.   
      May 1, 2024
    • Journal of Compensation and Benefits

      OTC COVID-19 test coverage requirements under group health plans

      This article contributed by Corporate partners Damian Myers in Washington, DC and Yelena Gray in Chicago, and associate Annie Zhang in Washington, DC—all of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team—discusses updated federal requirements for group health plans covering over-the-counter COVID-19 tests purchased by members without an order or clinical assessment from a healthcare provider.
      May 9, 2022

    /Admitted to practice

    District of Columbia
    Indiana
    Illinois

    /Education

    Washington and Lee University, B.A., cum laude
    Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, J.D., cum laude

    /Recognition

    • Selected as a 2025 Pathfinder for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)
    • District of Columbia Courts’ Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll (High Honors in 2019 and 2020)

    Insights And Happenings

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    • Article

      Employee Benefits Briefing

      May 27, 2025
    • Article

      Best Practices for Health & Welfare Plan Fiduciaries

      May 23, 2025
    • Event

      Employee Benefits Briefing

      May 21, 2025
    View All

    Professionals in the Practice Area

    View All
    • Eric Paley

      Partner / Team Leader, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
      • Rochester
      • Office:+1 585.263.1012
      • epaley@nixonpeabody.com
      Eric Paley
    • Yelena F. Gray

      Senior Counsel
      • Chicago
      • Office:+1 312.977.4158
      • yfgray@nixonpeabody.com
      Yelena  F. Gray
    • Damian A. Myers

      Partner
      • Washington DC
      • Office:+1 202.585.8485
      • dmyers@nixonpeabody.com
      Damian A. Myers
    • Christian D. Hancey

      Partner
      • Rochester
      • Office:+1 585.263.1147
      • chancey@nixonpeabody.com
      Christian D. Hancey
    • Thomas J. McCord

      Partner
      • Boston
      • Office:+1 617.345.1337
      • tmccord@nixonpeabody.com
      Thomas J. McCord
    View All

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